WAFB 9 — There’s a new push to create more diversity in the sports agent industry. The Southern University Law Center, in partnership with Diverse Representation, are hosting its inaugural Sports Agent Bootcamp. The first-of-its-kind program will take place Feb. 4-5, 2022. Organizers say there are simply not enough Black sports agents, but they believe this plan is the way to address the disparity. “You talk about the NBA, you talk about the NFL, these are leagues dominated by black players,” said Jaia Thomas, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diverse Representation. “But when you look at people behind the scenes, the owners, the agents, the attorneys, they’re still dominated by white men. So, there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to diversifying the space behind the scenes, not just on the court or on the field.” During the two-day immersive bootcamp, students will participate in several workshops led by an array of sports agents from across the country who will prepare attendees for careers as professional sports agents. Participants will hear from industry leaders at leading companies such as Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Vanguard Sports Group. Some of the topics that will be covered during the bootcamp include, “Recruiting and Managing Clients”, “Representing the Peak Professional Athlete”, and “Maintaining Integrity as an Agent.” “I think for a long time some people argued that it was a lack of exposure. Some athletes would argue that they don’t know any black agents or black attorneys,” said Thomas.